Napoles’ lawyers seek TRO against arrest warrants

MANILA, Philippines–Lawyers of fugitive businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles filed a petition at the Court of Appeals before noon Friday to stop her arrest and to reverse her indictment for serious illegal detention by the Department of Justice.

The petition for certiorari accused Makati City regional trial court and the Department of Justice of committing grave abuse of discretion.

Atty. Lorna Kapunan confirmed the filing of a petition for certiorari with application for Temporary Restraining Order and writ of preliminary injunction in an interview Friday with Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

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Napoles questioned Makati RTC Branch 150 judge Elmo Alameda’s hasty issuance of the warrant of arrest despite the motion for the judicial determination of probable cause filed by her lawyers. She also questioned the DOJ’s reversal of its earlier dismissal of the case against her despite the alleged lack of additional evidence to warrant such a reversal.

Named as respondents in the suit were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, Makati RTC Branch 150 Presiding Judge Elmo Alameda, National Bureau of Investigation Nonnatus Rojas, whistle-blower Benhur Luy and members of his family Arturo Luy, Gertrudes Luy and Annabelle Luy-Reario.

Napoles, who purportedly funneled P10-billion pork barrel funds of some lawmakers to her bogus nongovernmnent organizations (NGOs), has gone into hiding with her brother after arrest warrants were issued on them by a Makati City court on Wednesday night.